Greg Levinsky
In four years at the College of the Holy Cross, Katie Guden increased her scoring output on the school’s Division I field hockey team every year, served as a captain as a senior, and graduated with an undergraduate degree and a certification in psychology and certificate in business fundamentals.
With an extra year of NCAA eligibility granted during her freshman year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Belmont High School alum knew exactly what she wanted for her fifth and final year of college field hockey: a highly competitive team and a solid graduate business program. Enter Wellesley’s Babson College, recently minted the nation’s No. 2 college by the Wall Street Journal and whose field hockey program appeared in the NCAA Division III Final Four last fall.
“I decided Babson mostly for the field hockey competitiveness and also the rigorous academics,” Guden said. “I loved Holy Cross … but I also wanted to expand on my liberal arts education from undergrad and go into business.”
Holy Cross does not have a graduate school, which made Guden’s decision easier. Sure, the four-year varsity field hockey standout at Belmont, who also played varsity ice hockey, lacrosse and ran outdoor track, could’ve delayed graduation and extended her undergraduate degree by a semester, but the 22-year-old was motivated to try something new.
Sinead Walsh, Guden’s teammate at Holy Cross, did the same graduate transfer the year before and recommended the Babson experience.
All NCAA athletes active during the 2020-21 academic year were given an extra year of eligibility, which enabled Guden to graduate from Holy Cross in the standard four-year timeline and enter the transfer portal as a graduate student.
“It’s a great way for them to cap off their careers,” said Babson coach Julie Ryan. “It’s certainly helpful that we’ve had high-level success over the last few years, so the timing of these kids’ using their extra eligibility and success have certainly aligned.”
A midfielder, Guden’s first college season was a COVID-19-impacted shortened campaign. She emerged as starter during her final three years at Holy Cross, tallying two goals as a sophomore, three as a junior, and four as a senior and team captain last fall.
While Guden played well, Holy Cross struggled as a team. The Crusaders, a NCAA Division I program, went 22-43 overall and posted a 7-16 mark in Patriot League play during Guden’s career. It’s much different at Babson.
The Beavers (7-3, 3-0 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference) rank No. 6 in the most recent National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III poll. At first, Guden hesitated to transfer from a Division I to a Division III program. She looked at some other Division I programs to transfer to but stuck with her gut. Most of Babson’s games are played on field turf rather than astroturf. Some games aren’t quite as competitive, but Guden feels contests against top-ranked teams look just about the same as Patriot League ones. Babson won 22 games last year, just one less than Holy Cross did in all of the four years prior.
“I knew I wanted to compete at a very high level but also make sure I was getting a good master’s program and not have that overpowered by going to a not-great D1 program,” Guden said.
Being the hunted, not the hunter, is new for the left midfielder, who tallied three goals and two assists through her first 10 games.
“A lot of teams are out to get us for sure,” Guden said. “In the past, I’ve been on the opposite side, always wanting to pound on that top team. Being on the other end is very different, but I love it. It fuels us.”
Ryan, now in her 18th season leading the Babson field hockey program, said the program has taken a handful of graduate transfers like Guden over the past few years, including Boston University alum Brooklyn Lamb, whom Guden played against with Holy Cross in the Patriot League.
Ryan said that the midfield has a lot to do with dictating the pace of the game and controlling it defensively. “She’s certainly in a position on the field where she’s quite involved. She just brings a different level between her experience and her maturity.”
Working toward graduating from Babson with a Master of Science in Management and Entrepreneurial Leadership this spring, Guden anticipates a full-time career in marketing or operations while sticking around field hockey in a part-time coaching capacity on the side.
With half a season of college field hockey left, Guden looks forward to a long postseason run with her new program.
“I’m definitely very happy with my decision. I don’t regret it one bit,” she said. “It’s been such a great time, good experience, and I think our team overall is playing really well.”
